Elemental Energy: The Fuel of Temperament (Part One)

Last time we talked about Modality: Cardinal, Fixed, Mutable. Now, over the next four posts, we're going to take that a step further and discuss the four types of energy fueling those modes: Fire, Earth, Air and Water.

(Please keep in mind these are Archetypes. Pure energies. No one is only an Aries or a Pisces. We’re the sum of all our parts, from our Sun Signs to our Ascendant signs and everything in between.)

FIRE

Fire signs (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius) are, at their hearts, spontaneous, impulsive and, yes, fiery. These people are passionate and enthusiastic with healthy egos. That’s not to say you won’t come across a Fire person lacking self-esteem. Of course that happens. However, there must be something drastic in this person’s background to have ground his/her ego into the soil because with fiery people, and there’s no easy way to say it, the world revolves around them.

That’s just the way it is.

They make no excuse for it and see nothing wrong with it. At all.

Writing that makes me smile because it’s an attitude I admire. If we’re not okay with ourselves, how are we going to be okay with the rest of the world?

Fire is a combustive fuel, it can be a beautiful thing to witness although sometimes preferably from a safe distance. Other times, Fire is all consuming, scary and occasionally ugly, especially in its aftermath. Have you ever witnessed the scorched earth after a wildfire? The remnants of house burnt to the ground?

Aries has a quick temper, fast to ignite. They’re the most impulsive, they catch that spark and away they go. Aries is Cardinal, the first sign, the one who starts the Zodiac. The beginning. First. Fast. Fast to burst into flames, fast to burn, fast to burn out. On the upside of that fastness, they’re also quick to forgive. To forget. There's too much else out there to capture their attention to dwell on the past. The downside, try nailing them to the ground. They’re already off, starting something else and aren't waiting around to see if you can keep up.

Leo is the most loyal of all the Fire signs. Fixed modality, solid and true, they’ll usually stick beside you through thick and thin. A slow and steady burn, that’s Leo. Think warm, crackling flames in the fireplace. Contained. Relatively safe – we are talking about Fire. Being fixed, however, Leos are also the most stubborn. And the most unforgiving. That Fixed modality again. Long memories. Leos thrive when at the center of a family type group. Lion Pride is very real for most Leos.

Sagittarius lives in the world of ideas, of philosophies to get excited and passionate over. There may be no one else more capable of igniting others with the passion of Sag’s ideas or ideals. To have people follow because they've been caught by that glow of idealism, of excitement, so close to the surface of every Sagittarian. However, being Mutable, Sag can get ensnared in a tendency to let another glow-flit capture their attention because they’re highly susceptible to the risk of being pulled in a different direction, leaving their previous passions as nothing more than smoldering embers. Still, try to resist a Sag’s powerful, fiery pull when they’re in the throes of expounding on their latest aspiration or ideal. Or resist tagging along with them on their latest adventure when they've invited you along.

*****

As a writer, one of the wonderful things about Astrology is utilizing the ready-made Archetypes for a jumping off point in character building.

In the PSI world, we have Ben Garrett, head of the Institute for Psychic Studies but also the leader of the PSI Sentinels. A definite Alpha in his own right, he was forced in the past into a lone wolf position. Those reasons are touched on in BLIND SIGHT, but as a Leo, Ben isn't happy without family. So he’s essentially made his own with the PSI men and women he has mentored over the years. I know he’s a Leo and from there I have a better understanding of his reactions to people, to events and situations. That’s not to say he hasn't surprised me a few times. Loyal and steadfast, he has an exceptionally long memory and an unerring sense of what is right, what rules he’s willing to bend and what is completely unacceptable. He won’t tolerate anyone threatening his people.

Rily Carrigan, the heroine in BLIND SIGHT (and sister to the hero in STOLEN SPIRIT), is an Aries. Hot temper, quick to flare, but just as quick to forgive. Constantly on the move, she’s a pleasure to watch, just ask Gabe. ;o) She’s impulsive and has absolutely no desire to dwell on the past. Of course, that’s what she’s forced to do when an old friend is found dead and the key to her death may be locked in their shared background.

My Sag character, at least for now, is only a secondary character who hasn't actually made it to the page yet. He’s rich, owns his own island in the British Virgin Islands (not too big – doesn't want to be too flashy), and his interest in the PSI goes several years back to Gabe Nicholetti (hero in BLIND SIGHT) bringing the gang who kidnapped and murdered his sister to justice. Mr. Sag will find his way to the page soon.

Are you a Fire sign or do you have someone in your life who embodies the Fire element?

Whether painting, out on a photo shoot or writing, Pam has always had a bend toward the creative side of life. Her favorite is when she can combine any of those with travel. Places get into her blood and she loves to explore the possibilities, always with characters and a story in mind.

An astrologer for most of her adult life, Pam has been known to see auras & the occasional ghost. Considering she lives in a haunted house in the mountains of southern California, this keeps life interesting.

Comments

Mary Willmont
Wednesday, 29 October 2014

I enjoyed your descriptions and found them very interesting. I've been involved in numerology since the sixties and also read a lot on astrology, graphology and a number of other of what is often referred to metaphysical sciences and have always found them fascinating and revealing.

We'll have to talk about graphology sometime. Handwriting fascinates me, but I haven't devoted much time to studying it. On occasion I've been able to tell a person's major astrological influence by their handwriting. Nothing scientific, more of a 'I bet Virgo's strong in his chart' type of feeling. I doubt I could tell each sign in that manner, but some stand out to me. Probably has to do with that Aries impatience or Virgo restraint, which may well go hand and hand with Graphology. Hmmmmmm. ;o)

Numerology, on the other hand, is one of those subjects I think is important to have a solid grounding. There's a resonance to each number that translates well in understanding many of the nuances in Astrology, the Tarot, and many of the other metaphysical sciences.

Sounds as if you have a lot of Fire in your life. I'm there with you. Both my parents are Leo, my oldest son is Leo, and my youngest brother and two of my dearest friends all have Leo Moons (their emotional resonance is Leonine, but that's another post at a later date)!

Fire sign characters can be a joy to write. Rily, all ticked off at her brother in STOLEN SPIRIT, practically exploded on the page and Ben ...well, I fell for Ben at first stroke of the keyboard. Mr. Sag is playing a little harder to get, but he's tickling the edges of my mind and I do know who his heroine is, so he'll succumb soon. ;o)

The post on Earth signs is up now, with Air and Water over the next couple of weeks.